Implement hitch



Mam}! H. E. WELBOURNE 1,851,1 2

IMPLEMENT HITCH Filed Nov. 28, V 1930 2- Sheets-Sheet l.

A TTORNEY.

March 29, 1932. H. E. WELBOURNE IMPLEMENT HITCH Filed Nov. 28. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar, 29," 1932] IMPLEMENT Ema a licat o mewmmm 28321930. seriai'm; 498,6 0.

, The presentinvention relates in'general to improvements in theart of workingthegsoil, and relates more specifically to improvements Y in:the construction and: operation of hitches or the like for facilitating attachment of various forms {of'earth working implements to a support or g'uidingrdevice such as a tractor,

and for subsequently enabling adjustment thereof to meet variousoperating conditions.

An object of the'inventionfis to provide an "improved hitch'forimplements or'the like,

' which is simple in construction and eflicient in operat on,

Another object of the invention'is 'toprovide ahitch which is, readily manipulable to eifec t a'dju'stment'otan implement associated therewith in order to meet various conditions ofoperation: r r v 1 A-fu'rther object of the invention is to provide a hitch whichis adapted to efiectively cooperate with variousforms of implements suchfas, cultivators,--.plows, harrows or the like. I I I g V 'istill'another object 'of the-invention is to provide an improved hitch which is especially applicableflto tractors of the so called garden type whereinthe tractor is motoridriven but ,is manually guided by an operator'walking atthe-rear ofthe meme I r Afurther'objectfof the invention is to provide a hitch'which is compact and durable in constructiom'and Ewhich will permit rapid withdrawal of the implement to-iiieii'ective position.-

,-vide an improved'hitch which maybe quickly 7 lAnother object of the invention 'is' toi pro? and conveniently applied to any relatively standard tractor, and which is in turnreaclily associable withvarioustypes of implements.

V 1 These i and other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdetailed description,

Afclear conception oi an embodiment of the inventiontand of the modeof constructing and ofiiianipiilating hitches builtiii accordance therewith, may be had by referring to parts in:the variousviews'zt the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters'designate the same or similar driven garden tractor having an implement PATENT HARRY EQZWELBOURNEYOF -WEST,ALIiIS,'WISCQNSINQASSIGNOR To rioiinnn mun FACTURING coMrAmn-oi WEST ALLIS, wzscoivsrmn'oonroim'iiioiv 01* Wisconsin Fig. 1 is aperspectiveview of a motor hitch applied to connect a cultivator thereto,

the cultivator being shown in elevated ineffec- J v i 1 v Fig. 2is a similar'side-view of the tractor,

tive position;

hitch 7 and cultivator, showing thelatter loweredinto efi'ective or operativeposition Fig. 3'1s'a similar side view of the tractor,

showingjthe hitch associated Witha plowof relatively standard construction, and also showing the plow veiiective Orbperative p i io I, r I

' Fig.4-is an enlarged top view -of theim proved hitch alone, showing ;.the adjustinglever in its extreme lowered position;

:Fig 5'is a similarlyenlarged side view of i 7 the hitch with" the adj usti'ngflev'er' likewise iniits extreme lowered p sitie nd 7 i Figrfiis'a s milar side'viewof the improved hitch showing thejadjiisting lever; in its exp- 1 treme elevated position.

In Figs; 1, 2 and 3 theimprovedhitclihas been, applied-to a motor propelled garden tractor 7 of relatively standard construction, I having a rear bracket 8 which provides apiv-' otal support foiflcaster wheels 9 andtor implement; attaching arms-'10, The tractor Ti s ofthe corresponding propellingwheels. The

" provided with the usual pi opelling wheels and during transportation thereof, over the ground,-the rear caster wheels 9 trail inrback i rear endsoir' the armslO are usually provided 7' with clevises 11 adapted to receive an implemerit attaching device such 7 as the hitch sup-- portingbar 12. As specifically shownin 'Figs. 1 and 2 a cultivator 13 of relatively standr ard' construction has been associated with the improved hitch;wherea"s in Fig. '3 a plow 14 beenillustrated hereinas beingapplied i to the improved hitch, it,will be understood-that other forms of implements are likewisea'ssociable with the hitch;

Y The improved hitch formingthe subject I likewise'of relativelygs'tandard" construction, I has been substitiitedior the cultivator "113."

T While only-two forms of implements have justing bracket 15, one or more adjusting arms 16, 17 pivotally associated with the forward end of the bracket 15, and means for locking the arms 16, 17 and the implement associated therewith in various positions of vertical adjustment.

The transverse supporting bar 12 may be rigidly attached to the cleviscs 11 by means of clamping screws 18, and the adjusting bracket 15 is rigidly attached to the supporting bar 12 by means of bolts 19 and lock washers 2O coacting therewith. The adjusting bracket 15 has two laterally spaced upwardly inclined projections 21. 22 to the foremost ends of which the adjusting arms 16, 17 are pivotally attached by means of a transverse bolt 23. When two adjusting arms 16, 17 are utilized, these are associated with the pivot bolt 23 at the outer sides of the projections 21, 22 as shown in Fig. 4, and the portion of the bolt 23 between the projections 21, 22 is preferably embraced by a spacing sleeve 24. The nut 25 cooperating with the bolt 23 is also preferably provided with means such as a cotter pin 26 for locking this nut upon the bolt 23.

The rear portions of the adjusting arms 16, 17 are provided with implement attaching elements 27 secured to the arms 16, 17 by means of bolts 28. When an implement such as a cultivator 13 is associated with the spacing arms 16, 17, the implement is rigidly attached to the depending portions of the elements 27thereby rigidly connecting the arms 16, 17 and compelling these arms to swing simultaneously about the pivot bolt 23. One of the adjusting arms 16 is provided with a handle 29 and with a latch operating lever 30, the latter being associated with a latch 31 by means of a rod 32. The latch 31 is slidably supported in a bracket 33 secured to the side of the arm 16 and is resiliently urged in a forwarddirection by means of a spring 34. The latch 31 is cooperable with a notched segment 35 which is adjustably associated with and attached to the projection 21 of the bracket 15 by means of clamping bolts 36. By pressing the latch lever 30, the latch 31 is withdrawn from an adjacent notch 37 of the segment 35, and the arms 16, 17 may thereafter be swung about the pivot bolt 23 in an obvious manner.

When a plow 14 or other implement having a single draft arm is associated with the improved hitch, the draft arm of the plow 14 may be rigidly attached directly to a single adjusting arm 16 which may then be associated with the pivot bolt 23 between the projections, 21, 22. as shown in Fig. 3. The use of two adjusting arms 16, 17 is then unnecessary and the formation of the plow draft arm is ordinarily such that the use of the implement supporting elements 27 may likewise be dispensed with.

During normal operation 01'? the improved hitch, it will be apparent that after the hitch has been properly secured to the arms 10 o a tractor 7, and an implement has been properly associated with the hitch, the position of the implement with respect to the ground may be readily altered by merely manipulating the lever 30 and the adjusting arm 16 with which this lever is associated. By releasing the latch 31 at the proper moment, this latch may be caused to cooperate with any desired notch 37 of the segment 35 and the implement will be positively maintained in the adjusted position. lVhen the latch 31 is caused to cooperate with the upper notch 37 of the segment 35 the implement will be elevated to ineffective position with respect to the ground, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 and will be rigidly retained in such ineffective position. If the latch 31 is caused to cooperate with one of the lower notches 37 of the se ment 35, the implement will likewise be rigi 1y locked in effective or operative position.

An important feature of the present invention is the formation of the adjusting bracket 15 with the integral projections 21, 22 thereof extending upwardly and forwardly. This upper inclination of the projections 21, 22 provides a long range of adj nstment for the implements associated with the improved hitch and enables lowering of the implement to a greater distance than would be possible if the projections 21, 22 were not upwardly inclined. The fact that the projections 21, 22 extend forwardly toward the tractor 7 for a considerable distance, also permits the use of relatively long adjusting arms 16, 17 without interfering with manipulation of the tractor 7. These long arms produce considerable leverage, enabling convenient lifting of relatively heavy implements The removable pivot bolt 23 also provides for convenient detachment of the implements from the tractor 7, and the two spaced projections 21, 22 of the adjusting bracket 15 further provide for convenient attachment of various forms of implements to the hitch.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the improved bitch is simple and compact in construction and highly etlicient in operation. The bitch is readily manipulable to effect adjustment of any implement associated therewith, and is also cooperable with implements of widely varying nature. The bitch is moreover conveniently applicable to standard tractors and while being simple in construction is nevertheless sufiiciently rigid to avoid breakage thereof during normal use.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operation herein shown and described,for various modifications within the scope of the a It is claimed and desired to'securebyLetters Patent: c

claims -may occur to personsl'skilled. in the '1. In combination, a transverse supporting .bartrormed forrigidattachment to a tractor,

a bracket ri idly. securedito said'loar,v said bracket having an upwardly inclined and forwardly extending fixed projection, and an imple'mentxsupporting arm pivot-ally asseciatedwith said projection in front of saidbar.- a

2; "In combination, a transverse supporting bar formed for. rigid attachment to a tractor, a bracket ri idly secured to said bar, said bracket having an upwardly inclined and forwardly extending fixed projection, and an implementsupporting arm having its forlward portion pivotally associated with aforward upper portion of saidiprojectionv V 8. lnccmbination, a transverse supporting bar formed for attachment to av'tractor, a bracket secured to said bar, said bracket having an upwardly inclined and forwardly extending projection, an implement 'suppo'rtk ing arm pivotally associated with said projection in front of said bar, andme'ans forlocking said arm in various positions of ad,-

I rjustmentrelative to said projection, a

- l. Incombinatzoma transverse supporting bar formed for attachment to a tractor, a bracket securedto said bar, said bracket havingxan upwardly inclined and forwardlyextendingcprojection, an implement support.-

arm having its forward portion pivotallyiassoc' ated with a forward upper portion a t of said ection, and means for locklng said arm in various positions of adjustment rela- 'tive to said projection. I 4D 'ing bar having its opposite ends formed for 5.111 combination, a transverse support rigid attachmentto a tractor, a bracketrigidly secured to said bar intermediate said ends, said leaf having an upwardly inclined and forwardly extendingfixed projection, and l Ian implement supporting arm pivotally'associatedwvith the forward portion, of said,

projection.

6. In combination, a transverse supporting bar formed for rigid attachment to a tractor, a bracket rigidly secured to the medral portion of said bar, said bracket having a pair of laterally spaced upwardly inclined and forwardly ent'endinrfined projections,

and an implement support-inc:- arm pivotal ly associated with the forward portions of said projections and extending rearwardly over said bar. f

7. In combination, a transverse supporting bar formedforattachment to a tractor. a bracket secured to the medial portion of said bar, said bracket having a pair of lab erally spaced upwardly inclined and for wardly extending projections, an implement supporting arm pivotally associated with the forward portions of saidiprojectionsand extending rearwardlyover said her, and means for, lockingsaid arm in various positions of I 9. In combination, a transverse supporting a pairrof laterally spaced upwardly inclined and forwardly extending projections, azpivot detachably associated withthe forsaid bar, and meansfor locking saidarm in var1ousposit1ons of angularad ustment rel- .atlve to theaxlsof sa1d'p1Vot.J 7 I 10." In combinatlon, a transverse supporting barfformed for attachment at its opposite ends to a tractor, a bracketsecuredto said bar betweensaid ends, said bracket havward ends of said projections, an implement supporting arm' swingably, assoc ated with said pivot and extending'rearwardly over said bar, said bracket having an upwardly V inclined and forwardly extending projection, an' mplement supporting armplvotallyfasso elated withithe forward portion of said proioo jection, a notched segment secured to said} pro ection," and nieans-for locknig said arm to said segment in various "positions of. ad

justment;

, I, 11.,1In combination, a transverse supportmg bar formed forri-gidattachment'znhorr z ontalipositionto the rearportion ofia tra'c- Y tor, abracket rigidly secured to the medial.

portion of said bar,- said bracket having a pair of upwardly inclined and forwardly eX- tending laterally spaced fixedprojections, a pivot cletachably associated with the forward'ends, of saidprojections, a pair of im-' plement supporting arms swingably assowardly over said bar, and implement supporting elements secured to, said arms rear- Wardly of saidbar and adapted for rigid interconnectlonby. an implement. j

' 12-111 combination, a transverse support ing bar formed. for attachment,inlhorizontal position to the rear portion of a tractor, a

bracket secured to the medial portion ofsaid bar, said bracket having a pair of upwardly inclined and forwardly extending laterally spaced projections, a pivot detaohably asso- T ciated with the'forward ends of said ;pro,

' 'ections, a pair of implement supportingarms swing-ably; associated said pivot andextending rearwardly'over said bar, and means ing bar formed for attachment to a tractorfieli 1 a bracket securedxto the medial portion'zoi ciatedwith saidpivot and extending rear 115 for locking said arms in various positions of angular adjustment relative to the axis of said pivot.

13. In combination, a transverse supporting bar formed for attachment in horizontal position to the rear portion of a tractor, a bracket secured to the medial portion of said bar, said bracket having a pair of upwardly inclined and forwardly extending laterally spaced projections, a pivot detachably associated with the forward ends of said projections, a pair of implement supporting arms swingably associated with said pivot and extending rearwardly over said bar, a notched segment secured to one of said projections, and means for locking one of said arms to said segment in various positions of adjustment.

14. In combination, a transverse supporting bar formed for rigid attachment at its opposite ends to the rear portion of a tractor, a bracket rigidly attached to the medial portion of said bar between said ends, said bracket having a pair of laterally spaced upwardly inclined and forwardly extending fixed projections, a pivot detachably associated with the forward ends of said projections, a pair of implement supporting arms pivotally associated with said pivot at the outer sides of said projections, said arms extending rearwardly over said bar, and means for rigidly interconnecting said arms rearwardly beyond said bar.

15. In combination, a transverse supporting bar formed for attachment at its opposite ends to the rear portion of a tractor, a bracket rigidly attached to the medial portion of said bar between said ends, said bracket having a pair of laterally spaced upwardly inclined and forwardly extending projections, a pivot detachably associated with the forward ends of said projections, a pair of implement supporting arms pivotally associated with said pivot at the outer sides of said projections, said arms extending rearwardly over said bar, means for rigidly interconnecting said arms rearwardly beyond said bar, a notched segment secured to said bracket, and means for locking one of said arms in various positions relative to said bracket.

16. In combination, a transverse supporting bar, a pair of laterally spaced clevises adjustable along the opposite end portions of said bar, an attaching arm pivotally secured to each of said clevises and adjustably associable with the rear portion of a tractor, a bracket secured to said bar between said clevises and having an upwardly inclined and forwardly extending projection, an implement supporting arm pivotally associated with said projection in front of said bar, and means for locking said arm in various positions of adjustment relative to said projection.

17. In combination, a transverse supporting bar, a pair of laterally spaced clevises ad ustable along the opposite end portions of said bar, an attaching arm pivotally secured to each of said clevises and adjustably associable with the rear portion of a tractor, a bracket disposed between said clevises and having a portion located in front of said bar, an implement adjusting arm pivotally associated with the portion of said bracket in front of said bar and extending rearwardly thereover, and means for locking said adjusting arm in various positions of adjustment relative to said bracket.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

HARRY E VVELBOURNE. 

